Hybrid in-car speaker and headphone based acoustical augmented reality system

Abstract

An in-car headphone system may include a first headset associated with a vehicle occupant and configured to transmit audio signals to an associated occupant; at least one interior microphone configured to receive an interior audio signal from within a vehicle cabin; at least one exterior microphone configured to receive an exterior audio signal acquired from outside of the vehicle; and a processor configured to receive at least one of the interior audio signal from the at least one interior microphone and the exterior audio signal from the at least one exterior microphone; determine whether at least one of the interior audio signal and exterior audio signal include a trigger command or an alert signal; and transmit the audio signal that includes the trigger command or alert signal to the first headset in response to the audio signals including a trigger command or an alert signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An in-car audio system, comprising:
 at least one interior microphone configured to receive an interior audio signal from within a vehicle cabin;   at least one vehicle speaker arranged in a vehicle cabin and configured to transmit audio signals to a driver;   at least one first headset associated with a first vehicle occupant and configured to transmit audio signals to an associated occupant;   at least one exterior microphone configured to receive an exterior audio signal acquired from outside of the vehicle; and   a processor programmed to:
 receive the interior audio signal from the at least one interior microphone and the exterior audio signal from the at least one exterior microphone; 
 transmit the interior audio signal to the at least one vehicle speaker and to the at least one interior microphone to facilitate a conversation between the driver and at least one occupant; 
 determine whether the exterior audio signal includes an alert signal; and 
 cease transmission of the interior audio signal to the vehicle speaker and transmit the alert signal to the vehicle speaker in response to the exterior audio signal including the alert signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the alert signal includes an audible sound relating to an emergency. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the alert signal includes an audible siren. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second headset associated with a second vehicle occupant. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the interior audio signal to the first and second headsets. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive a trigger command, and wherein the first headset includes a plurality of headsets and wherein the trigger command indicates which of the plurality of headsets is to receive the interior audio signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the trigger command is an audible command. 
     
     
         8 . An in-car audio system, comprising:
 a first headset associated with a first vehicle occupant and configured to transmit audio signals to the first vehicle occupant;   at least one exterior microphone configured to receive an exterior audio signal acquired from outside of the vehicle;   at least one vehicle speaker configured to transmit audio signals; and   a processor programmed to:
 transmit interior audio signals acquired from within the vehicle to at least one vehicle speaker; 
 receive the exterior audio signal from the at least one exterior microphone; 
 determine whether the exterior audio signal includes an alert signal; and 
 interrupt the interior audio signals at the vehicle speakers to transmit the exterior audio signal in response to the exterior audio signal including the alert signal. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the alert signal includes an audible sound relating to an emergency. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the alert signal includes an audible siren. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive a plurality of known alert sounds and compare the exterior audio signal with the known alert sounds to determine whether the exterior audio signal includes an alert signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one second headset associated with a second vehicle occupant distinct from the first vehicle occupant. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first headset is associated with a driver of a vehicle and the processor is further programmed to transmit the exterior audio signal only to the first headset associated with the driver and not to the at least one second headset. 
     
     
         14 . An in-car audio method, comprising:
 receiving an interior audio signal from at least one interior microphone;   receiving at least one trigger command including an identification of which of a subset of a plurality of headsets and speakers to transmit the interior audio signal to, each of the headsets and speakers associated with a vehicle occupant; and   transmitting the interior audio signal to the subset of headsets and speakers in response to the trigger command, wherein at least one of the subset of headset and speakers is an in-vehicle speaker.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger command includes a command received via a human machine interface (HMI). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger command is an audible command. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the interior audio signal includes human voice signals acquired from the at least one interior microphone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising continuously transmitting media signals to the other headsets not included in the subset of headsets. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the trigger command identifies a subset of occupants to receive the interior audio signal.